Warburtons intent on minimising redundancies

Warburtons has announced that no compulsory redundancies are set to be made in the first phase of its £25m Bolton bakery redevelopment.

The consultation period has now concluded, following the announcement in January that 121 jobs out of 234 employed on two bread lines were at risk.

The two lines at its Hereford Street bakery are to be replaced by a new facility, to be commissioned from September 2011.

Through work with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, Warburtons said it had identified alternative positions within the company, “that we hope all affected employees will accept”. Warburtons has also confirmed that 45 employees had taken voluntary redundancy or early retirement.

“If this is the case, there will be no compulsory redundancies in phase one of the Bolton bakery redevelopment,” said Warburtons.

“We would like to thank JobCentrePlus and the local council for their support in helping those who chose to accept voluntary redundancy find alternative employment,” added the firm.